I'm currently putting my 455 back together. My dad decided to throw his 430 stage 1 heads in my block. They're 1.6 rocker arms. I was just wondering is there any modifications I need to do to the heads and the rocker arms or can I just bolt the heads on? Would love to know some information. THANKS
You will need to plug the oilling hole on the cylinder heads due to the fact that pre 70 engines oiled the rocker arm assemblies through the head and not through the pushrods. If you do not plug this hole you will have a oil leak. Rocker arms are not a problem,however they are not as strong as the later steel ones. I am sure there are others out there that can give you the exact specifics. Bill
You must use 455 lifters and pushrods. Should have no problem with the rockers. The oiling mod. is talked about here www.atlantabuick.com/CastingNumbers.htm :TU:
you may also need to use a 'hybrid' pushrod as the 430 rocker arms have a 3/8" sockect while the 455 arms have a 5/19" socket to match their lifter cup. also, be careful of the intake manifold bolts. 430 uses 3/8" while the 455 uses 7/16". Yardley's page: http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jholthenrichs/knowledge.htm#rocker arms
I take it they are 1.6 aftermarket rockers. Another thing worth mentioning is check for pushrod cotact with the head. I had to modify all 16 holes when using my 67 heads with 3/8 pushrods and rollers on a 70 455 block.
I installed a set on my 70 block 2 years back. Just bolted them on and used the 70 rockers and pushrods. I didn't know to block the oil holes and now have a valve cover leak. Not enough to make me fix the problem, but you need to do it while its easy. Personally, I would stay with the later rockers and pushrods. The older ones are 1:6, but they are weaker.
I take it they are 1.6 aftermarket rockers. all of the 430 heads came with 1.6 ratio rockers from the factory. the 1970 conversion to 455 displacement also brought a reduction in ratio to 1.55
I've read a good few sources that state 70 rockers were 1.54. But I don't want to get that technical. I was simply trying to help the person out. Usually anyone around here that beats on 30-37 yr. old engine is using after market rockers. Weather it be Ford, Mopar, Chevy, whatever. When one of those guys tells me his rocker ratio it is either a # or stock. I guess I lost my head for a minute. We are here to help one another not criticize.
didn't mean to be criticizing, just letting you know that 1.6 RR doesn't mean or necessarily imply aftermarket when you're talking about 67-69. keep in mind that i'm replying for everyone using the board, not just you. otherwise, some noob passerby might get the impression from your post that they needed to 'upgrade' their 430 heads to 1.6 ... when they've already got it.
